The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-05-05
IN THE SHENANDOAH.
An Ohio Soldier Speaks His Mind About the Fa.
nous Campaign.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: was In
every engagement with my regiment from the
time il entered the Shenandoah Valley, in
July, 1864. until the close Of the campaign.
i was the first infantryman who fired a gun on
the memorable Oct. 10. My regiment, lSO
strong, was posted on the Front Royal road,
leading 70 the ford o. the Shenandoah, at
which place was stationed a company of cav
airy from the ID Mich. i was the last man on
this line but one-John Dobbins, Co. L. Bath
Ohio At 4:l0 a. m. this comrade ran TO my
post and said. with blanched face: IL saw
number Of men Just now crawling on their
hands and knees" indicating their position on
the opposite side Of the road. j said TO Dob
bins: Go back 10 your post, put out your
fire, and stand your ground!" He went back,
but returned in five minutes, and said, They
are all around there in numbers" i said, Stay
by me-"
At once n sharp ycll and voley were heard
at the ford. ] knew our cavalry had been
captured. Immediately six cayalrymen came
up the Front Royal road at a brisk trot, pass
ing the concealed rebel infantry and coming
full on my post. leveled my gun and halted
them. One of them said, Surrender you
Id Yankee" ! damned them back 10
their face, the difference between ms being -
feet. They fred SIX revolyers at my body ms
] fired AZ them. j staggered them, though
they were six 10 one. They wounded Comrade
Dobbins IN the side. The next picket, James
Reeves, fired full into them, aud SO on until
they were stopped 10y the reserve. They re-
turned, brought up several hundred men, and
swept the reserve. They captured five from
my company, not one Of whom ever returned; ;
they were either killed or died in prison.
moved west from my position, bringing my
wounded comrade. The rebel dead there
proved to be from the 9th Ala. Cav. In my
second position the yolleys Of musketry came
rapid. IL was still moonlight and the rebel
infantry were forming in the openings as /
got TO position occupied by the Both Ohio,
and the fighting became heavy
i ask any brave soldier of the Eighth and
Nineteenth Corps if il was not muzzle and
stOcl-put the guns to their bodies aud shoot
them, and they as? The handful Of the Eighth
Corps who fought al Cedar Creek need no de-
/ Tense. Think OF those terrible two hours in
the reastwOrks-surrounded, outnumbered,
1anked. Look nj the graves made next day.
See the evidence of the desperate struggle,
hand-to-hand, on the left in front of the
Eighth and Nineteenth Corps, driven by
superior numbers after desperate struggle.
Comrades in the rear, what were you doing
all this timer Your horses were running rider
! less in our ranks. Some were tied TO their
pickets, Others TO wagons, and being shot Your
rations were lying untouched. We walked
through tents standing, baggage and camp
hours of darkness and daylight to develop the
front of desperate battle. Those who did not
comprehend. waited too long. Cedar Creek was
a surprise magnihcently planned aud executed
! in desperation.
At a. m concealed line Of infantry on the
left and a thousand cavalry would have checked
the rebel advance. There was at no time a rout.
A thin line of infantry was hastily thrown 10
! the left to keep back the rebel cavalry crowd
i ba gtrlf.
ally getting i'm rear of our entire army. The
Sixth Corps was then forming with no enemy in
] its front while $4,000 men, as good as ever
were in the rebel army. were fighting 10 the
death on our left. AT 4l0 a. IN. the rebel in
/ fantry were breathing in our faces as il Were
at s a. m. half OF this tried army of the Union
had not yet been engaged.
Yet / saw no evidence Of cowardice. The
Eighth and Niacteenth were all true aud tried
soldiers. They were old in war, and had done
great service. What did they want? They
wanted time; they wanted a rallying point
they wanted a line formed TO stand on after
being beaten back a mile in three hours The
half not engaged had plenty Of time 10 DO this
1t had warning in thunder tones / say 10 any
comrade of the Eighth aud Nineteenth Corps
YOU can look down with disdain on any who
would brand you with cowardice or even with
rout on Oct. IS, 1864 Comrades think Of Win
chester, July 20, % and "a, where our brave old
regiment formed squares FIVE times TO rope
rebel charges; th:ak Of Sept -, when We
waded waist-doep In water and doubled mp lin,
alter line of rebels on the open plain for tire,
mortal hours amid shot aud she'll; think o.
Fishers Hill Sept. p. where VIC got Oh the;;
flank, lcaped their bryastworks under a muir
derous fire, capturing their battlefags an,
nearly all OF their cannon. Call you thes,
brave boys towards? The poet says "Oul
evil deeds they live in bronz-; our virtue
they write IN Ratern-DENNIs MULLIGAN, Co
E. SAITH Ohio, Eighth Corps, Bucyrus o.